Charity fail: Wishing Well Foundation voted worst US charity for sixth year

If you gave a dollar to the Wishing Well Foundation USA, you’ll be extremely displeased to know that only five cents went to treating terminally-ill children, while nearly twice that much went to the charity’s president.

The non-profit watchdog Charity Navigator gave the Wishing Well Foundation from Metarie, Louisiana zero out of five stars for the sixth year in a row. In 2008, the group generated $1.3 million in donations; over $1 million was spent on its telemarketing campaigns, $63,000 was collected by president Elwin Lebeau, and a paltry $36,000 was used to grant wishes.

According to the Louisiana Association of Non-Profits, a ‘well-run’ charity gives 75% or more of its proceeds to its intended recipients; by contrast, the Children’s Dream Fund of St. Petersburg, Florida gave nearly 81% of its proceeds to granting the wishes of terminally-ill children, and with a lower budget. [Source; Image]